Private Instruction Courses

Take advantage of the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most qualified and experienced climbers and instructors on our Private Instruction Course programme.

Our Private Instruction Courses offer you the flexibility to choose the course duration and dates which suit you best. You can outline the type of skills you would like to achieve in line with your future climbing objectives or up-skill yourself in your chosen field from one of our specialist professional guides.

Whether you aspire to further your skill base through a course in a specific discipline such as ice climbing, or you require individual attention from your guide to develop skills at your own pace, Private Instruction Courses offer the flexibility to choose the course duration and dates which suit you best. You can outline the type of skills you would like to achieve in line with your future climbing objectives, and for the seasoned climber, you have the ability to up-skill yourself in your chosen field from one of our specialist professional guides. Private Instruction Courses give you the option to advise us of your preferred itinerary and course content, and we will work with you to design an appropriate and stimulating course format.

You can join as an individual for 1:1 personalised instruction, or put your own group of like-minded companions together and past course participants have enjoyed dramatic improvements in their climbing standards.

With our headquarters based at Lake Wanaka we have the distinct advantage of short travel times to the venue with the best weather and conditions at the time. We have the option of the Westland, Mt Cook, Aspiring and Remarkables mountain regions in addition to crags around Wanaka and alpine rock at the Remarkables. This enables us to get you into the most appropriate location much faster and gives more choice of venue.

Our courses have been designed by Guy Cotter who has been climbing for over 35 years. Additional to his extensive record in New Zealand, his career has includes over 40 high altitude expeditions and polar journeys, including four ascents of Mt Everest and four other 8000m peaks.

As an IFMGA Guide since 1991, Guy Cotter recognises the need for people to learn about ‘climbing’, and not just being taught the technical skills in isolation. This is not an easy task and cannot be achieved without experienced and highly skilled guides with good instructional skills. The guides at Adventure Consultants are recognised as amongst the best in the industry with the ability to help you get the most from your time with us.

Aircraft access alleviates long and tiring walks into the alpine region with heavy packs. It allows you to start the course fresh, gain more valuable instructional time and take advantage of fine weather periods. For this reason we utilise helicopters or ski planes depending on availability and the region we operate in. The helicopter or ski-plane flight into the alpine region is included in the course fee.

A bonus for this course is the inclusion of an egress flight in the course fee. We include an egress flight out from the mountains so your course spends the maximum amount of time above the snowline.

Registration, Deposit & Balance Payments

In order to confirm a guide and your trip, we require a completed Registration Form and a deposit of NZ$1,000.00.

The balance of payment is then due 60 days prior to the start date.

Please note: In order to reserve a guide we recommend that you book well in advance. This especially applies to the high season period (November through March).

Payment Options

All payments should be made by bank transfer to the following bank and account:

Once you have paid your deposit your trip is confirmed, subject to payment of the balance of fees owing 60 days prior to your trip commencement date. An expedition member may then cancel his/her participation on the following basis:

Up to 60 days prior to the departure date a NZ$500 fee applies.

Inside 60 days of the departure date, we reserve the right to retain 50% of the full fee.

Inside 30 days of the departure date, we reserve the right to retain 75% of the full fee.

Inside 15 days of the departure date forfeits 100% of the full fee.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

We highly recommend you take out trip cancellation insurance via your travel agent – trip cancellation insurance is usually packaged together with your travel insurance and covers you for loss of deposits should you not be able to make the trip for personal reasons.

The instructors on our New Zealand courses are all NZMGA/IFMGA qualified guides with many years experience, not only in pursuing their own climbing careers, but also in learning how to pass these skills on in an environment which is conducive to accelerated learning.

Our focus is to pass on knowledge that will assist your development towards becoming a competent climber. Many courses focus primarily on techniques that are taught as skills in isolation yet we recognise that you need to learn those skills in context while you are actually climbing the mountain so you know where and when to utilise each technique learned.

Success with the highest margin of care is always a hallmark of our approach; promoting the realisation that even extreme pursuits such as high altitude mountaineering can be undertaken safely.

A founding principle at Adventure Consultants is to recognise the necessity of positive communication within the group to foster an open and friendly approach to communicating and reinforcing learning processes.

Adventure Consultants employs only IFMGA or NZMGA qualified guides, the most advanced training and certification program internationally. In order to gain these qualifications guides must undergo rigorous training and assessment on climbing skills, instructional skills, avalanche training and assessment, wilderness first aid, rescue training and much more. The qualification takes around five years to attain and ensures you are getting a world-class professional service.

Head Office Support Team

Running successful journeys and expeditions is more about experience, knowledge and strategic management than any other factors. As an organisation, we place a substantial amount of time and resources into ensuring our trips are well planned and supported. You can be assured that the AC staff will provide you with friendly advice and knowledgeable support throughout the planning stages of your trip and we will be there to provide backup while the trip is running.

Emberly has been with Adventure Consultants since March 2016 in the role of Client Liaison and Retail Buyer. She brings a positive attitude and 'can do' approach to her role.

Your Health

Our registration form requests that you advise us of any medical problems you may have and if you are on any medication. Any information you supply will be treated as confidential.

Difficulty Rating

Each of our trips is individually rated according to its physical and technical difficulty, displayed in the icons towards the top of each trip page. You can click on the accompanying question mark for additional descriptions and the full run-down of our grading system is available on our Difficulty Ratings page.

Preparing for Your Trip

To make the most of your climbing experience we encourage you to work on your fitness prior to the trip. You will find that training with a 20 kg + pack on is the best preparation for the mountains, with the aim of getting ‘pack fit’ and building your endurance. Your guide places special focus on fitness levels and will regulate the pace accordingly. See our Fitness Training Programs for information on how we can help you prepare for your course.

Food

We place emphasis on providing nutritious meals and a good supply of snack food throughout the trip. If you have any special dietary requirements, please advise us at the time of registration.

Accommodation

In Wanaka...Wanaka has a range of accommodation from backpackers, youth hostels, motels, and hotels to luxury lodges.

We are happy to assist with your accommodation and bus transfer arrangements.

During the course...Adventure Consultants will provide your accommodation while the course is running which is from 9.00am on Day 1 until 5.00pm on the last day of your course. When in the mountains you will stay in mountain huts with shared bunkrooms and basic facilities. There are no single rooms available. Some mountain nights will be spent in tents or bivvies where you will be more exposed to the elements but the final decision on this will be made by the guides after weighing up all the factors. For more information on New Zealand's mountain accommodation see our Alpine Huts page.

For overnights in Fox Glacier or Aoraki Mount Cook villages, you will be accommodated in dormitory style Alpine Club huts and in Wanaka in dormitory style backpackers with shared bathroom facilities. You may decide to upgrade to single accommodations in Wanaka at your own expense, should you require.

Clothing & Equipment

Climbing in the New Zealand mountains requires good personal gear due to the potential cold weather conditions. Our focus is on having the essential clothing and equipment, whilst keeping pack weights as light as possible for your comfort and ease of travel.

Click here for a comprehensive equipment list. Your Guide will go through the equipment checklist with you prior to the trip, just after you meet on day one. All group equipment will be organised by your Guide.

Adventure Consultants can help with all your equipment needs prior to your trip departing. We have a dedicated equipment coordinator that can answer any questions you may have, or you can also read the following equipment notes which are designed to help you when making decisions about which equipment best suits your personal needs.

We carry a good range of modern rental equipment. If you will be renting equipment from us please advise your requirements in advance to ensure correct sizing and availability. In addition, our extensive retail catalogue and gear store provide the added service of purchasing your clothing and equipment needs directly from us. We are regularly outfitting climbers from head to toe to help them prepare for their course, ascent or trek! We also have a range of products available at our headquarters for any last minute purchases on the day of departure.

Communication & Messages

Our guides are in radio/cell/sat phone communication with our operations base and Department of Conservation headquarters throughout the trip. This assists us with schedule and weather forecast updates, helicopter coordination and safety back up. Urgent messages can be relayed via our office to the field if required. Each course carries a locator beacon for additional security.

Travel

We commence our Private Instruction Courses from our base in Wanaka. Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Qantas provide daily services for flights from Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington to Queenstown. There are also direct international flights from Australian cities to Queenstown.

Alpine Connexions offer a shuttle service several times daily between Queenstown and Wanaka (approximately one hour driving time and with costs from $35 each way).

Return ground transport from Wanaka to the course venue is included in the cost of the course.

Guide Books & Maps

Included in your course fee is a complimentary copy of ‘A Climbers Guide to New Zealand Mountaineering Techniques’. Written by Adventure Consultants guides Guy Cotter, Dean Staples and Mark Sedon, the ‘ACG’ was published specifically as reference material which you will find useful before, during, and long after your course has finished.

The Mount Cook Guidebook by Alex Palman and The Mount Aspiring region - by Allan Uren and Mark Watson offer good insight into to the variety of peaks and routes in these respective areas.

It is useful to have your own map for navigation exercises, and we can advise you of the relevant 1:50,000 topographic maps required.

The training area venue for your Private Instruction Course will generally only be decided just prior to the course commencement date to ensure the most favourable area is utilised.

We operate our courses in the Mt Aspiring, Mt Cook or Westland National Parks depending on factors such as: weather and snow conditions, hut occupancy rates, and securing the best climbing conditions at the time. The course will commence and finish at our Wanaka office.

A note about training on lower altitude peaks - if your focus is on joining one of our expeditions in the future, we recommend training in lower altitude mountain ranges such as the Southern Alps of New Zealand where there are many peaks of around only 3000m in height, but similar in ruggedness and valley to summit altitude gains as the higher peaks of the Himalaya. This allows you to concentrate on the technical skills required for successful alpine climbing. We find that without the hassles of altitude slowing you down you are able to get ahead so much more quickly and you can concentrate on your altitude training further down the line.

Our objective is to pass on the skills, which have made us successful in our own international climbing careers. The most important attributes being:

A solid climbing standard and mountain awareness

Sound judgement of your own ability

Good planning and preparation skills

Good decision making

We endeavour to cover the following skills during the course, however factors such as weather and climbing conditions may dictate that some skills are not covered in full. On the Private Instruction Course you may deem that the course focus primarily on one or two aspects of climbing so you can increase your skill set in that area.

Basic snow and ice-craft

Mountain first aid and health

Rope skills applicable to alpine climbing

Camp Management

Glacier travel and self rescue skills

Route finding and navigation

Weather analysis Emergency shelters

Alpine rock climbing skills

Preparation for high altitude expedition climbing

We spend as much time in the mountains as possible actually climbing peaks whilst developing skills. Initially you will develop and reinforce your skills in a contained environment and move on to more challenging routes and terrain during the course.

Experiential learning is a major factor in becoming a competent mountaineer. The emphasis of the course is on safe application of skill development. We will introduce skills through actually climbing peaks and increase the intensity of the program at your pace.

Alpine climbing can involve long days with early starts in order to gain a summit with descent before nightfall. There are times when the weather may be rough and there can be periods of discomfort. We manage this through consultation with the group members and our objectives are dictated by the strength and motivation of the group as a whole.

You may have the opportunity to develop additional skills before the course commences. Rope skills can be learned through local alpine clubs or climbing Gyms. Previous rock or alpine climbing experience will allow you to gain even more from the course.

Day 1 of the course begins at 9.00 am at our office, at 20 Brownston Street, Wanaka. Please arrive just on 9.00am as the guides will be preparing prior to that time. You will need to arrive in town the night prior to the course commencing. Please give us a call to confirm your arrival in town.

We moved into our new premises in January 2013. We are walking distance to the shores of Lake Wanaka and now have amazing views of the surrounding mountains that we love to play in. The new building is a nicely renovated house with space for groups to get ready, a classroom, a dedicated kitchen and an area for packing expedition gear for freighting to the far corners of the earth. We've also expanded our lobby with added retail space. There are ten work stations in the office with a nice outdoor deck and shade cloth for the Friday afternoon g and t's!

You will find some of New Zealand's best sport climbing in the Matukituki Valley - the gateway to the Mt Aspiring region (just a ten minute drive from our office). Three ski resorts provide plentiful winter activity and all year round fishing, boating and numerous other recreational activities abound.

Experience a via ferrata (iron rung) climb on soaring waterfall whilst in Wanaka. Wild Wire is a truly great guided day out climbing a private via ferrata at Twin Falls in the Matukituki Valley. A safe and fun adventure activity for all ages.

Scenic Flights

In Wanaka we are surrounded by a myriad of lakes and mountain ranges as well as South Westland and Fiordland National Park, with the world famous Milford Sound. Seeing such sights from above by helicopter or plane is a must whilst visiting the South Island. Talk to our office about booking a flight.

Feel the spray on your face and adrenaline through your body as you shoot through the rapids on one of Queenstown Rafting's numerous options, from short half day trips to three day wilderness experiences, there is something for everyone.

Experience paragliding with Wanaka Paragliding, New Zealand's most Scenic Tandem Flight with lake and mountain views across the stunning Matukituki Valley. On a clear day enjoy spectacular views of Mt Aspiring, Lake Wanaka, Roy's Peak and the surrounding mountains.

Enjoy a fun and adventurous half day boat and bike tour which combines a scenic lake cruise on the pristine Lake Wanaka with a mountain bike tour skirting the lakeshore with our friends at Wanaka Bike Guides.

Discover the scenery, history, food and wine of Wanaka and Central Otago with Wanaka Wine Tours. Catering to all, from complete wine novices to dedicated wine connoisseurs, their explorations of the local vineyards are a delight to the senses!

Bungy… the quintessential New Zealand activity that speaks for itself. And Canyon Swing! Let us organise this for you after your trip with us and take the hassle out of it. Talk to our staff about it today!

Canyoning adventures are a journey unlike any other. Get in touch with a special natural world and see beauty such as you’ve only dreamed of… From the raw power of strong waterfalls to the tranquillity of deep, forested pools, from sculptural rockscapes to glowing green moss droplets, you will be immersed in a world you never knew existed.

Take an incredible scenic helicopter flight through Fiordland National Park, a listed World Heritage Area, where you will land on a private boat in the very remote Dusky Sound. Enjoy a cruise of the Sounds and if you're feeling adventurous then don your dive gear and head underwater for a phenomenal dive in the unique underwater world that Fiordland has to offer. Feast on an amazing lunch of fresh seafood, before heading back to civilisation. Truly an experience not to be forgotten.

Rock Climbing

After your course you could add-on a multi-pitch single day 1:1 ascent with your guide. Depending on your skill level, there is a range of excellent options for rock climbing in the region. This is a superb way to consolidate the skills that you learnt, and an opportunity to feel the real exposure of multi-pitch climbing.

Climb Kosciuszko

While you are in New Zealand, you could pop over to Australia to climb one of the Seven Summits, Kosciuszko the highest mountain in Australasia. Let us take the hassle out of the logistics and organise everything for you. It is a fantastic country and a really fun, non-technical, adventure. Contact our office for a detailed quote.

Have a camera man join your course or ascent and document the entire thing! Choose from a variety of options for different budgets. You could have a full colour book and short film, or a full documentary for television. Your trip is the trip of a lifetime; why not keep it to show your friends and family. Contact us or see our specialty Film and Photo Services page for more information.

Let us take the hassle out of buying new gear. We can sort all of your expedition equipment requirements for you from head to toe with specific personal purchases that will leave you with all of the best gear for use on the mountain. Contact us or see our specialty Gear Store page for more information.

Your friends or family may wish to join you on your holiday but don't like the idea of actually climbing a mountain. Let us know if this is the situation and we will be able to put together an itinerary that keeps them busy while you are up high. There are so many wonderful things to do, so have a chat with us and we will put together the perfect programme.

Adventure Consultants recommends the following travel insurance insurance options for trekkers and climbers visiting New Zealand, although this is only just a start! Once you book on a trip with AC, your Client Liaison will help you by sending through advice on your options;

Travel insurance

Trip interruption

Trip cancellation

COVERMORE INSURANCE

Indulge your spirit of adventure, but protect yourself against all of those unforeseen events that can occur prior to or whilst on your trip with Adventure Consultants. Together with CoverMore Insurance, Adventure Consultants are now offering advice and assistance in purchasing CoverMore policies. With quality travel insurance cover, comes peace of mind and the freedom to venture around the world with confidence, in the knowledge that you will have the support and assistance of CoverMore, if you need it.

Adventure Consultants highly recommends the Options Plan as this gives you the highest level of cover and benefits available. This includes cover for trip cancellation and amendment which protects your travel investment, medical and dental emergencies, lost luggage/personal belongings and travel delay, amongst other things.

You can tailor your cover further by adding on winter sports, annual multi-trip cover, scooter riding and working holidays to name a few.

The option to increase your cover on valuable luggage items such as cameras and laptops.

Adventure Sports Cover for a variety of activities. Trekking is automatically covered, provided that reasonable care is taken, and you are not using ropes or other mountaineering equipment.

Free Global SIM card.

24-hour emergency medical and travel assistance centre that is staffed by specialist doctors, nurses and case managers. This now includes the new Travel GP service, allowing you to talk in person to an Australia-based GP.

Who and what trips is the policy suitable for?

Non-New Zealand residents travelling inbound to New Zealand – suitable for cover when travelling around New Zealand, but mountaineering or climbing is excluded.

The following Frequently Asked Questions answers serve as a helpful guideline for the Adventure Consultants New Zealand Guided Ascents and Courses. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. Our team is here to help!

How long have Adventure Consultants been in operation?Adventure Consultants commenced operations in 1990 and has been guiding internationally ever since. You can read the full story of the company on the AC History page. The New Zealand guiding operation for Adventure Consultants under CEO Guy Cotter’s leadership was established after 1996 and quickly propelled AC to become New Zealand’s largest guiding operation within a few years.

A few outfitters claim to have the same level of experience and prestige as Adventure Consultants. In this league, what makes you the first choice for your climbers?As a New Zealand company leading clients to the summit of Mount Everest, we are renowned for our expertise at high altitude and the expansive logistics that are necessary to be able to be extraordinarily successful guiding in such extreme environments. This ‘top down’ approach is applied to all our planning and processes and we are proud to apply this service and level of detail to each and every trip we operate. We maintain such high standards by focussing on quality and by attracting the best guiding and headquarters administration staff in the business.

What showers and washing (clothes) will be available on the course/ascent?In the high alpine environment and at our Wye Creek Ice Climbing Base Camp and First Tracks Wanaka Alpine Heli Camp, there are no showers or clothes washing facilities. The alpine huts and AC Base Camps have a small supply of fresh water for a basic wash cloth refresher and/or wet-wipes can be handy for a tidy up during your hut or stay at Wye Creek.

Would you let us know what food will be available?During your trip or course, we will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks and ample hot and cold drinks to keep you well-nourished and hydrated. We can cater for a variety of diets and with the convenience of flying in and out of the mountains, we are able to provide a good variety of fresh goods, protein sources and produce.

What is the food like?All of our NZ guides are proficient cooks who aim to prepare high-quality popular dishes that are filling and nutritious. Please indicate any special dietary requirements on your application form, so that we can take this into consideration when planning.

What are the NZ Mountain huts like? Can I have my own room?NZ offers some fantastic huts in amazing locations and most often these provide dormitory style bunk rooms and communal kitchens. Toilets are 'long drops' and many are famous for their views! Expect to share the huts with other like-minded climbers. Read more on our New Zealand Alpine Huts page.

What is the Wye Creek Expedition Camp and First Tracks Alpine Heli Camp like?These are innovative camps that incorporate two large expedition style tents - one for cooking and relaxing and the other for sleeping. The camps provide a cosy atmosphere to enjoy your morning and evening meals and to relax after a big day of climbing, heli-hiking or ski touring. A separate sleeping tent contains bunks and mattresses for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Do I need to arrive the day before the trip starts? And when should I book my flight to leave?With an early start on day one (9:00am in summer and 8:30am in winter), we do ask that you arrive at least one day prior to your trip start. This will allow you to get settled in and organized for your week, and also provides some leeway in case of delays or lost baggage. This also means that you start your trip well-rested and ready to get into the mountains. You are welcome to arrive several days early or stay for extra nights at the end, and we are happy to assist with accommodation bookings and/or travel advice.

When should I book my ticket?If you are joining a group course we generally ask you to wait until 60 days prior to your trip start date to ensure your trip has met the minimum numbers and will operate. If you see a good deal and want to book your flights then ensure you can make changes to your tickets or you run the risk of losing your ticket if we do have to cancel the trip.

If you are joining us for a 1:1 course or ascent, or with a group of friends then you are welcome to book your tickets as soon as you wish.

Can I get a cheap ticket online?The problem with these tickets is that you usually end up having to pay quite a lot more if you have to make any changes to your ticket. Therefore, we highly recommend using a travel agent.

Where do we meet? Will I be picked up?Our NZ trips start at the Adventure Consultants head office which is located on 20 Brownston Street in Wanaka, which is on the corner of Russell and Brownston Streets. Our summer trips/courses start at 9:00am and winter trips and courses start at 8:30am. We can easily arrange for your guide to come pick you up from your accommodation and your Client Liaison will be happy to assist with booking airport transfers.

What if I am arriving early or departing late?Adventure Consultants can make reservations for you and can often make recommendations for local attractions you can enjoy while waiting for your trip to begin. Please let our office know your specific plans.

Do you have a recommended list of clothing we should bring?Yes, once your booking form and deposit have been received, we will send you out a specific gear and equipment checklist along with additional equipment notes, which will provide a description, example and recommendations for each item required. You can also find this information above in the 'Trip Notes' section.

Do I really need all the equipment on the equipment list?Yes, all of the items on the list, except those marked optional, are necessary for mountaineering in New Zealand. Due to the variable weather and conditions in the New Zealand Mountains some of the above items may or may not be utilised on your trip and your guide will discuss this with you during your gear check on arrival.

How warm do we need our sleeping bags to be?A sleeping bag rated up to 3season or better (approx -5˚C and containing anything from 550gms–750gms down fill) is ideal for New Zealand summer mountaineering conditions. For winter courses and ascents bring a bag rated as 4season or 700g+ down fill (approximately -5˚C to -10˚C).

We suggest buying a sleeping bag big enough to allow you to wear some clothes in if it is especially cold. Sleeping in a warm hat can greatly improve a bag's warmth.

What first aid supplies will be available on the trip?All our guides carry a full first aid kit to deal with any medical emergency on the trip. You need to bring any medications you regularly use (don’t forget to tell us about them), plus some extras. Also, bring a small first aid kit including a blister kit and mild pain relief medication.

How many guides will be assigned to our group?You will find the trip ratio in the 'Trip Notes' section above. Generally, our group scheduled courses are guided at a maximum ratio of 1:4, whereas guided ascents are at a 1:1 ratio. Depending on your experience and objectives Private Instruction Courses operate at a ratio of between 1:1 and 1:4, and Ascents Weeks at 1:1 or 1:2.

How much weight will we carry?Once we arrive at our alpine hut base we will be able to leave most of our gear at the hut and only carry what is required for each day. This is all course/ascent dependent, but you will need to be able to carry a day pack with warm clothes, water, snacks, sun block, camera and whatever else you need for the day plus a share of group climbing equipment. Generally, it will be a medium weight of approximately 5 to 10kgs (10 to 20 pounds). You need to be prepared to carry a full pack of about 20kg for trips and/or courses that finish with a walk out of the mountains, and for advanced trips and/or courses such as our Alpine Expedition Course, where hut to hut traverses may be possible as well as overnights outside of the alpine huts.

Who goes on your trips?Our climbers and ski tourers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, countries and skill levels. We provide courses, expeditions, treks and guided ascents for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts, from those seeking skill development to those looking for assistance in reaching the world's highest mountains. We love what we do and we look forward to assisting you with whatever mountain adventure you’re dreaming up.

What kind of physical condition should I be in for my trip or course?We encourage you to work on your fitness prior to your course/ascent. When training, it is recommended you carry a pack for long periods on hills and uneven terrain. Over time, increase the pack weight until you are comfortable with 15-20kgs. Gym training, swimming, running and cycling also add to your base fitness and are a great addition to a pack training program.

Arriving fit and prepared for your trip is an essential key to a successful and enjoyable time. Here at Adventure Consultants, we have partnered with the experts at Uphill Athlete to create scientifically sound training plans designed by two professional coaches and leading mountaineers. Together we provide a range of training programs designed specifically for mountaineering, as well as one on one online coaching options. Check out our programs at Training Peaks or see our Fitness Training page page for more information.

How do I know this is the right trip for me?We offer trips to suit all levels of ability and ambition, from your first mountain experience to extreme ascents and everything in between. To help you navigate the choices available, our trips are graded by both the level of physical exertion and the level of skill required, allowing you to find your perfect expedition match. These ratings are displayed in the icons at the top of each expedition page, with a further explanation available by clicking on the accompanying question mark. A full run-down of the categories can be found on our Difficulty Ratings page and our team is more than happy to discuss your experience to find the right trip for you.

Will there be any access to a satellite phone? If yes then what would be the charges for usage?Yes, our guides take satellite phones on our NZ ascents/courses and you are welcome to use these at a cost of US$4 per minute. In some huts and camps, you will be able to get cell phone coverage, but please do not depend on this.

I want to contact my friend or relative, who is on one of your trips, how can I reach them?The best place to reach a loved one is through our office, as we can pass on messages when the guide calls in with updates.

Will there be any power source for charging batteries, etc. available throughout the course/ascent? What voltage requirements?We highly recommend fully charging your phones and cameras before heading into the New Zealand Mountains. Once at the huts and camps, there are no charging facilities. We recommend that you bring a camera that uses standard batteries and it’s a good idea to bring some spare batteries as a backup.

Which weather reporting service do you use?On the days leading up to your trip, your guide will be looking closely at the weather and we utilise a variety of websites as well as being lucky enough to receive updates from landowners, the Department of Conservation and others already in the mountains. Once in the mountains, your guide will contact our office on a regular basis via satphone to receive weather updates and any changes to the perceived weather pattern for the week.

What insurance do I need to get?We strongly recommend that you take out trip cancellation insurance and travel insurance to protect yourself in case of injury, mishap or cancellation prior to/or whilst on our trips. The New Zealand Alpine Club offers insurance options for Australian and New Zealand residents, and your client liaison will send you more details on this option.

While our number one focus is on safety and our track record supports this, the mountains do have hazards and there is always the potential for mishap.

Who do you recommend for insurance?Coverage varies based on your nationality and the trip that you are taking with us. When you have booked on for a trip with us we will send you information on various insurance options which will serve as a good starting point for obtaining the best coverage available for yourself.

What is trip cancellation Insurance?Trip cancellation insurance is an option that may allow you to cancel your trip without losing the total cost of the trip. Adventure Consultants highly recommends cancellation insurance for all of our trips and courses. If circumstances cause us to cancel a trip, then we will refund your fees paid. However, if you have to cancel your trip at the last minute trip cancellation insurance will cover your airfare and any other costs you may have incurred in the lead up to your trip.

Can I pay by credit card?Yes we have a secure online credit card payment service using Payment Express. A 3% credit card payment service fee is added to all transactions. We also accept payment by bank wire transfer and please seem further details in the 'Payment Conditions' sections above.

What is included in the cost of my trip? Does it include airfare?Each trip page on the website has a downloadable pdf document with exactly what is and what is not included in the trip. Please see the 'Payment Conditions' and 'Trip Notes' sections above. International airfares are not included in the trip price however, we recommend excellent travel agents should you require help with arranging your international airfare.

Why are you sometimes more expensive than other operators?We are proud to be leaders in the industry offering a variety of courses, trips, treks, and expeditions worldwide. We base our prices on the high level of operation and services we provide throughout the entire trip experience with us. Some of the things that set us apart are our internationally qualified guides, many of whom are world renowned. Our partnerships with proven dependable local operators, our small group sizes which provide for safe client-t-ouide ratios, high-quality equipment, and extensive pre-trip support, plus all those extra services along the way that help to make your experience with us extraordinary.

How do I sign up for a trip?The best way to reserve your space on a trip is to contact our office or complete our online booking form (click 'Book Now' below). Your deposit can be submitted by bank transfer (please see 'Payment Details' in the 'Payment Conditions' section above) or via our secure online payment system.

I want to become a mountain guide, where do I start?Those with limited experience generally start by taking an alpine climbing course and then go out and climb for a few years. You generally should have at least 5 years of climbing and/or teaching/guiding experience. You need avalanche and medical training and then you can apply to do a NZ Mountain Guides Course or the equivalent in your country, aligned with the IFMGA. Check the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association web pages for a complete description.